Financial management is a common challenge for many neurodivergent people, yet stigma and shame limit open discussion on the subject, which in turn contributes to breakdowns in communication with financial services. 

I want to get us all talking honestly and openly about the topic. That’s why, at the end of this month, I’ll be hosting my second free “Ask Me Anything” online session, focused on Perspectives on Neurodivergence and Debt. While this session is open to anyone, it is especially relevant for neurotypical decision-makers, policy leads, and frontline staff working in financial services.

This session offers a valuable opportunity to learn how existing processes used by service providers can unintentionally create barriers as well as some simple tweaks that can make all the difference

Why this matters

Research by UK debt charity StepChange shows that neurodivergent people face disproportionate challenges when managing debt, yet are significantly less likely to seek help or receive effective support. These challenges are often the result of systems, processes, and communication styles that are not designed with neurodivergent people in mind.

This is where the social model of disability becomes crucial. Rather than viewing neurodivergence as an individual deficit, the social model asks how organisations, policies, and environments create or remove barriers.

In financial services, this can include:

• Rigid communication channels
• Overreliance on phone calls or time-limited responses
• Lack of awareness on neurodivergence and associated challenges
• Inflexible policies around disclosure and reasonable adjustments
• Unconscious bias perpetuating shame, stigma and systemic barriers.

What we’ll talk about

This is an open, honest session where participants can ask questions and explore real-world scenarios. I’ll also share my own experiences, including:

• Negotiating with creditors
• Talking to financial institutions about my neurodivergence
• Requesting and securing reasonable adjustments
• Managing debt in a way that works with my brain
• The Financial Ombudsman process
• Submitting a Right of Access request to recover lost or missing communications
• Accessing benefits such as PIP and Access to Work payments 
• Accessing support from charities, local services, friends and family

For financial services professionals, this session provides insight into:

• How policies feel in practice, not just on paper
• Where well-intentioned systems can unintentionally exclude
• What “reasonable adjustments” actually look like in real interactions
• How applying the social model of disability can improve outcomes for both customers and organisations.

This session is not training and does not replace formal CPD. However, it does offer CPD-adjacent learning through lived experience and reflective discussion.

Participants will gain:

• A clearer understanding of the social model of disability and how it applies to debt, financial communications and customer journeys
• Insight into how standard policies and processes can unintentionally create barriers for neurodivergent customers
• Real-world examples of reasonable adjustments in practice – beyond policy documents
• Improved confidence when discussing neurodivergence, disclosure and support with customers
• Practical reflections that can inform policy review, service design and risk management.

For leaders and decision-makers, this is an opportunity to listen, learn, and reflect in a low-pressure environment, grounded in real experience rather than theory alone.